HENDERSON, Ky. (5/3/13) – On Saturday, April 27, Henderson County High School’s Science Olympiad team secured “Top Ten” individual finishes during the 2013 state Science Olympiad competition. The team ranked 13 of 24 teams at the competition which included 24 events.

The Science Olympiad is a national, nonprofit organization established in 1983 devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science, and providing recognition of outstanding achievement in science education. These goals ware accomplished through classroom activities, research, training workshops, and the encouragement of intramural, district, regional, state, and national tournaments.

The following students placed in the categories listed: Fourth place in Chemistry Lab – Jesse Tapp and Lacey Payne Fourth place in Circuit Lab – Robert Sauer Sixth place in Rock and Minerals – Jack Hardy and Hencye Sights Sixth place in Technical Problem Solving – Alec Watson and Hencye Sights Seventh place in Dynamic Planet – Jack Hardy and Hencye Sights Seventh place in Fermi Questions – Josh Miller and Alec Watson Seventh place in Write it Do it – Kristen Knight and Kelsie Wilson Ninth place in Robot Arm – Kelric Knight Ninth place in Thermodynamics - Jesse Tapp and Avery Hartley Tenth place in Remote Sensing – Josh Miller and Jack Hardy

The Science Olympiad Tournaments are academic, interscholastic competitions which consist of 24events for which students prepare during the school year. These challenging and motivational events are well balanced among the various science disciplines: biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, physical science, astronomy, anthropology, engineering, medicine, computers, and technology. Event competitions require knowledge of science facts, concepts, processes, skills, and application.

The high school team competition requires teamwork, group planning, and cooperation. The emphasis is on learning, participation, interaction, having fun, and developing team spirit. Division C (grades 9-12) may have up to 15 members. A maximum of seven (7) 12th grade students is permitted on a division C team.

During the competition, each event was monitored by an administer during a specific one-hour period while 2-3 team members working jointly for a team score. Throughout the year, each student prepared for as many as 4 or 5 events.

“This year our students competed in all 24 events which is the first time we have done that during the Kentucky Science Olympiad competition,” said Henderson County High School chemistry teacher and Science Olympiad team sponsor, Robin Thacker.